Distictis laxiflora 'Vanilla Orchid' (Vanilla Trumpet Vine) - This is a moderately fast growing evergreen vine reaching 30 feet tall and wide. Showy fragrant lavender flowers fade to light lavender throughout the warm months. It looks a bit like D. 'Rivers', but has a slightly more delicate look about it and the blooms fade to white and give off a pleasant vanilla scent. Plant in full sun to part shade and water occasionally in the summer. It is hardy to about 25-30 degrees F. If it is well established, it should regenerate from the roots if it freezes down to the ground. We originally acquired this beautiful vine in 1986 from Bernard Acquistapace, owner of Pianta Bella Nursery, who propagated it by taking cuttings off of a plant growing in a Montecito estate. We planted it on the pergola when we moved to our new sales office in 1987 and this plant overhangs our office structure to this day. For many years we have grown a selected plant from a seedling this plant produced but were rarely successful with cuttings from the original plant. In 2003 a cutting grown plant was planted into our greenhouse and we are now able to take root cuttings successfully of this wonderful plant from this stock and are calling the plant Distictis laxiflora 'Violet Vanilla'. This plant native to Mexico has long been known as Distictis laxiflora but the current name, according to The Plant List, the collaborative authoritative listing by Kew Botanic Garden and Missouri Botanic Garden, is Amphilophium laxiflorum. We will continue to list this plant as Distictis laxiflora until such time as this name change has wider acceptance.
This description is based on research and observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in our nursery garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We also try to incorporate comments received from others and appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Distictis laxiflora 'Vanilla Orchid'.